Battle of Wadi

The Battle of Wadi was fought on 4 March 2002 during the Afghanistan War as a part of Operation Anaconda, the operation to clear the Shahikot Valley of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.

The US Army Rangers were inserted into the Shahikot Valley at the start of Operation Anaconda, an operation which had the goal of surrounding and destroying a pocket of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in the valley, which was located close to the Pakistani border. The Rangers disembarked from Chinook helicopters, but the helicopters came under heavy fire from the Taliban positions, and one helicopter was destroyed. The Rangers also came under heavy fire as they advanced through the wadi (valley), and around five of them were killed, while another (approximately) five were wounded. The Rangers ultimately cleared the valley of Taliban resistance, and they went on to continue their advance on the Ginger Pass, leading to a battle at the nearby village.